Man, 29, dies after drinking 'pints and pints' of WATER when 'Ecstasy pill was slipped into drink'

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:07 PM on 22nd August 2011


A man died after suffering devastating brain damage after drinking 'pint after pint' of water.
His family believe the problems started when an Ecstasy pill was slipped into his drink during an evening out.
Matthew Ellis, 29 died more than seven months later from a chest infection in hospital in Sheffield.
Tragedy: Matthew Ellis, 29, slipped into a coma after drinking too much liquid. His family believe an Ecstasy pill had been slipped into a drink
Tragedy: Matthew Ellis, 29, slipped into a coma after drinking too much liquid. His family believe an Ecstasy pill had been slipped into a drink
He was rushed to intensive care after collapsing at his father's home on Boxing Day last year.
Matthew's mother Maureen warned others about the little known but catastrophic dangers of drinking too much water.
The drug made him crave water and the excess liquid he drank caused his salt levels to plummet bringing on a rare brain condition called extrapontine myelinolysis.
Mrs Ellis, 62, said: 'There is no health warning, water is good for you if you have a certain amount,'.
'But we want to make people more aware not to drink that much. Matthew went through absolute hell and it's such a waste of a young life.'

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Mrs Ellis, a council technical support officer, said Matthew had been working in Wales before Christmas and had taken time off over the holiday period and was staying in Sheffield with his family.
He had been due to start a job at Doncaster Prison in January.
He stayed out late drinking on Boxing Day before going back to spend the night at the home of his 66-year-old father Ken in Lowedges, Sheffield.
'The following day he felt poorly and stared drinking lots of water,' said Mrs Ellis.
'He was drinking pints and pints . We don't know exactly home much but he was drinking constantly throughout the day.
'The next day my eldest son Andrew phoned and said Matthew was starting to fit and had nearly fallen down the stairs. Then he collapsed in the kitchen.'
He suffered five seizures in the ambulance on the way to hospital and eventually died on August 4.
Mrs Ellis added: 'A consultant told me that Matthew must have unknowlingly been slipped an Ecstasy tablet.
'He never took drugs of any kind. He like to go out but not on a regular basis and might go six months without having a drink.'
He suffered irreversible brain damage after slipping into a coma - and his mother gave the hospital permission to switch off his life support machine.
However, he came round again in January although he could no longer remember who he was.
His funeral is due to be held on Saturday.
Nutrition expert Mayur Ranchordas, who lectures in physiology and nutrition at Sheffield Hallam University said water intoxication or hyponatraemia can have devastating effects.
He added: 'Extrapontine myelinolysis is a very rare condition. Too much water is actually very, very bad for you.
'Hyponatraemia is quite common among recreational runners on half marathon and marathon events.
'They're not running at a high intensity but they're still stopping at all the water stations, taking on large amounts of water and trying to stay hydrated.'